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Rating: 
Summary: This guide paints a far too rosey picture of the country
Review: After having read this book, the other guides about the subject of living in Costa Rica and having resided in the country, I can categorically state this book doesn't really talk about the down side of living there. Granted the country is very nice but more info. is needed. It just doesn't cover the negatives in detail.
Rating: 
Summary: Pura Vida!
Review: Having lived in Costa Rica several times, I found this book to be very accurate and credible. I was a little bummed that there was little mentioned about Monte Verde, or the countless world class Surfing areas. I would have liked to have seen a section strictly dedicated to some of the incredible Costa Rican sights,and something about the awesome Canopy Tours and recreation opportunities available. No worries. I highly recommend this book. The info is accurate, detailed, and covers all bases. Absolutly Primo!
Rating:
Summary: Not Honest or Objective
Review: I actually wanted to give the book less than two stars but it sparked an idea. If people will by this then I might try my hand a retirement book and actually put valuable information in it. Actually the book starts out promising enough in trying to get you interested in the country. However, its weaknesses become evident very quickly. The first weakness is a lack of objectivity. A good book will give you the good and the bad. The author here seems like a salesperson for Costa Rica. Second weakness: the author gives far too little analysis on the issue of taxes. This subject should have a dedicated chapter. Suppose your retirement income is from mostly untaxed foreign sources and comes to $70K a year. Now if additional taxes in the country come to 30% you will pay $21,000 before you buy one single thing. If a comparable country had a 10% tax rate you could still pay $14,000 more for rent, travel, transport etc. before breaking even. Third weakness: lack of honesty. Crime has increased in Costa Rica. The author's attempt to gloss over this was so transparent he would have been more credible if he had purposely omitted the topic. The dead give away is the authors comment "like many other countries Costa Rica has crime." He then works to minimize the issue. No statistics are given - and particularly year to year so you can see trends. You are much better off looking up articles on the country. Just a preview: a lot of things rot or have mechanical difficulties in the humidity. Some people's idea of paradise (particularly the Germans') is spending 365 days a year smoking and drinking, and waking up with a hangover half naked on the beach in the morning.
Rating:
Summary: Not Honest or Objective
Review: I actually wanted to give the book less than two stars but it sparked an idea. If people will by this then I might try my hand a retirement book and actually put valuable information in it. Actually the book starts out promising enough in trying to get you interested in the country. However, its weaknesses become evident very quickly. The first weakness is a lack of objectivity. A good book will give you the good and the bad. The author here seems like a salesperson for Costa Rica. Second weakness: the author gives far too little analysis on the issue of taxes. This subject should have a dedicated chapter. Suppose your retirement income is from mostly untaxed foreign sources and comes to $70K a year. Now if additional taxes in the country come to 30% you will pay $21,000 before you buy one single thing. If a comparable country had a 10% tax rate you could still pay $14,000 more for rent, travel, transport etc. before breaking even. Third weakness: lack of honesty. Crime has increased in Costa Rica. The author's attempt to gloss over this was so transparent he would have been more credible if he had purposely omitted the topic. The dead give away is the authors comment "like many other countries Costa Rica has crime." He then works to minimize the issue. No statistics are given - and particularly year to year so you can see trends. You are much better off looking up articles on the country. Just a preview: a lot of things rot or have mechanical difficulties in the humidity. Some people's idea of paradise (particularly the Germans') is spending 365 days a year smoking and drinking, and waking up with a hangover half naked on the beach in the morning.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book but the best on the subject.
Review: Mr. Howell's book is very well written like his book about living in Mexico. However we find Christopher Howard's "New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica" to be much better and paint a more relaistic picture of the country. Howard lives ther full time.
Rating: 
Summary: excellent with good humor
Review: my wife and found this book the best among books guiding you on thinking about moving to costa rica. i like the sense of humour throughout. easy reading. describes city in good detail. let's you see how he is living there and enjoying his life. highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: A good book but not the best on the subject
Review: My wife and I find the new edition of this guidebook not as complete as the previous editions. We like the old cover and color pictures which were in previous editions. In general the book is very well written organized but lacks a lot of details about living in the country i.e. insider information.
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